Symptoms

Symptoms often appear within 24-48 hours of exposure to the virus. Symptoms often last about 1-3 days.

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Often, this is enough to make the diagnosis.

It is rarely necessary to determine the exact virus causing the infection. Stool and blood samples may be taken if your doctor wants to know the exact type of virus causing the problem.

Treatment

A norovirus infection will go away on its own. Medical treatment is often not needed since the illness is often brief and mild.

Most people will recover by resting and drinking plenty of fluids. Oral rehydration solutions are the best option to help replace fluids and electrolytes. These can be found in most drugstores. Severe dehydration may require IV fluids in a hospital but this is a rare complication in the United States.

Antibiotics are not effective against viruses. There are no antiviral medications or vaccines used to fight or prevent this infection.

Prevention

To help reduce your chance of getting or passing noroviruses take the following steps:

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.